SWOSU Splits Opener with OC

February 9, 2006

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State got strong pitching efforts by Ashton Garrett and Kaci Carpenter to win the second game of a softball doubleheader here Thursday against Oklahoma Christian, 3-1. The Bulldogs were 5-3 losers in the first game and now stand at 1-1 on the year.

Garrett (LHP, Fr. Angelton, Texas) scattered five hits and allowed just one run in four and one-third innings in her first-ever collegiate start. She retired the first five batters she faced and ended the game, striking out four and walking just one.

Carpenter (RHP, Fr., Murray, Ky.) entered in the fifth inning with OC threatening with a runner on first and one out, trailing 3-1. She struck out the first batter and then allowed a hit before fanning another for the third out. Carpenter worked two and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and no runs while picking up her first save of the year.

SWOSU scored first in the first inning when Sarah Hamilton (3B, Sr., Mangum) smashed a one-out RBI double that scored Crystal Clay to put SWOSU ahead 1-0.

The Bulldogs added a pair of runs in the third inning with an RBI single by Clay and a RBI double by Te Berry (C, Sr., Canyon, Texas.) to go ahead 3-0.

In the first game, SWOSU’s took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Berry provided an offensive spark with a two-run, two-out, pinch-hit home run. The lead appeared safe with Alex Zukerman (RHP, Fr., Lawton) in control on the mound, but the Eagles scratched together a run in the seventh to send it into extra innings tied at 2-2.

OC’s Angela Plowman delivered two-run homer in the Eagles half of the eighth for a 4-2 lead. OC scored again to go up 5-2 and held on defensively, allowing SWOSU just one run in the bottom of the eighth for a 5-3 win.

The Bulldogs will next play today (Friday) at the St. Gregory’s Tournament in Shawnee. The next home game for SWOSU will be Monday, Feb. 20 against Oklahoma Science and Arts.